ChirchiqHistory and pictures of Chirchiq

Chirchiq (Chirchik) is a city in eastern Uzbekistan, about 32 km northeast of Tashkent, beside the Chirchiq River. Chirchiq lies in the Chatkal Mountains of the Tian Shan mountain range. It is in the middle of an intensively cultivated area, producing mainly vegetables and fruits, including melons and grapes. A large electro-chemical factory produces nitrogenous fertilizer for the region's collective farms. Chirchiq's industries also include the production of ferroalloys (a group of iron alloys) and machinery for the agricultural and chemical industries.

Chirchiq is also a major winter recreation area for the Tashkent area. Ski resorts, not far from the city, attract travelers from throughout Central Asia and the Russian Federation. A water diversion on the Chirchiq River just outside the city constitutes the major source of drinking water for Tashkent and other cities to the south. Chirchiq has a branch of the Tashkent Polytechnical Institute. The city was founded in 1935, when several local villages grew together as a consequence of the construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Chirchiq River.